Wed Feb 19 11:28:28 UTC 2025: ## Zelensky Accuses Trump of Spouting Russian Disinformation on Ukrainian Approval Ratings
**KYIV, Ukraine** – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday dismissed former US President Donald Trump’s claim that his approval rating is a mere four percent, accusing Trump of operating within a “Russian disinformation space.” Zelenskyy’s statement follows Trump’s call for Ukrainian elections, which are currently prohibited under martial law, and his assertion of Zelenskyy’s low popularity.
Zelenskyy stated that the four percent figure originates from Moscow, directly contradicting a recent poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. This poll revealed that 57 percent of respondents trust Zelenskyy, with only 37 percent expressing distrust.
Trump’s comments came on the heels of talks between US and Russian foreign ministers in Saudi Arabia – their first since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. These talks, aimed at de-escalating tensions and finding a resolution to the war, have raised concerns in Kyiv and among European allies who feel excluded from the process. The Ukrainian government is expressing alarm at the apparent bypassing of Ukraine in direct negotiations between the US and Russia to end the war.
First Piper 